Parenteral nutrition, or intravenous feeding, is a method of getting nutrition into your body through your veins. Depending on which vein is used, this procedure is often referred to as either total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN).

Parenteral nutrition delivers nutrients such as sugar, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, electrolytes, and trace elements to the body. These nutrients are vital in maintaining high energy, hydration, and strength levels. Some people only need to get certain types of nutrients intravenously.

Flushing Your PICC

Flushing Your PICC

Your PICC must always be flushed after you have received antibiotics, IV nutrition, chemotherapy, or blood products. This is to prevent it from becoming clogged. When your PICC is not being used, it must be flushed every 7 days.

Supplies

Steps to flushing your PICC

Gather your supplies.

Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap. Dry them with a clean towel or a paper towel. Put on a pair of nonsterile gloves.

To release the air bubbles in the syringe, gently tap the side of the syringe. Point the syringe up as you do this. Loosen but do not remove the cap on the syringe. Press the plunger on the syringe until the air is pushed out. Retighten the cap.

Check to make sure that the tubing is not twisted or clamped. Most PICCs will not have clamps on the lumens. If your PICC line has a clamp, be sure to unclamp it before you flush your catheter. Reclamp it after flushing your catheter.

If you have a disinfection cap, remove it.

If you don’t have a disinfection cap, scrub the end of the needleless connector with an alcohol pad for 15 seconds and allow it to dry for 15 seconds.

Remove the cap from the syringe. Throw away the cap. Make sure that nothing touches the clean end of the needleless connector while you are doing this.

Carefully push the syringe into the needleless connector and twist it in a clockwise (to the right) direction until the connection feels secure. Try to inject the saline. If you can’t inject the saline, stop and check to be sure there are no twists or other blockages in the tubing. Try to inject the saline again. If you still can’t inject the saline, do not use extra pressure to flush the line. Remove the syringe, reclamp your catheter, and call your doctor or nurse.

Use the following push-pause method to flush your catheter:

Quickly inject ? of the saline.

Pause.

Repeat.

Inject the last ? of the saline. If you have a clamp, clamp your catheter after the injection.